Making dementia a European priority

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Making dementia a European priority

• Marseille 17 October 2008
• Jean Georges, Executive Director

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Overview

• Alzheimer Europe
• Paris Declaration of the political priorities of
  the European Alzheimer movement
• Campaign to make dementia a European priority
• Campaign outcomes
• Lessons learned

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Alzheimer Europe
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AE Mission Statement

• Changing perceptions, policy and practice in
  order to improve the access by people with
  dementia and their carers to treatment options
  and care services

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Strategic Objectives

• representing the interests of people with
  dementia and their carers,
• involving and supporting national Alzheimer
  associations,
• improving the information exchange between
  Alzheimer Europe, its members and European
  structures,
• promoting best practice through the development
  of comparative surveys,
• developing policy statements and
• developing strategic partnerships

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Paris Declaration
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Paris Declaration

• Adopted by Annual General Meeting in Paris (May
  2006)
• Political priorities in the field of
• Public health
• Medical and scientific priorities
• Care and social issues
• Ethical and legal questions
• Alzheimer associations

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Key challenges

• 6.1 million people with dementia in European
  Union
• Socio-economic impact of the disease
• Late diagnosis
• Impact on carers
• Lack of services
• Differences across Europe with regard to access
  to treatment and services

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Delays in diagnosis
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Carer burden
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From problems to solutions

• Dementia as a public health priority
• Increased research funding
• Awareness campaigns
• Dementia in medical training
• Exchange of best practices (care models,
  guardianship systems)
• Support to Alzheimer associations

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AE Campaign
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Making dementia a European priority

• Paris Declaration adopted in 2006
• Creation of European Alzheimers Alliance chaired
  by Françoise Grossetête (France) (grown from 30
  members to 53)
• Total of 82 MEPs pledged their support

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Making dementia a European priority (II)

• Week long exhibition in the European Parliament
  (17-21 September 2007)
• Lunch debates in European Parliament

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Campaign outcomes
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Increased public support

• 72 Members of the European Parliament (all
  parties and 20 European countries)
• Written Declaration in the European Parliament

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National Initiatives

• French Alzheimers Plan (1.6 billion)
• German Research Initiative
• UK Dementia Strategy

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European initiatives

• French Presidency Conference on Alzheimers
  disease (30-31 October 2008)
• Council of Ministers decision to improve European
  collaboration on dementia research
• European Action Plan on Alzheimers disease (???)

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Lessons learned

• Collaboration with national associations is key
• Development of relationships over time
• Scientific support for statements
• Strategic alliance with other stakeholders
• Transparency on funding

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For more informationwww.alzheimer-europe.orgwww.
dementia-in-europe.eu